How can you make me choose? XD They all sound great :3

Well, if you want, you can just ask any one of them a question or for some details about them. I figure anybody who wants to do some Q&A can just handle it via comments and replies, yeah?

Also, heeeeey! Long time no see!

Hello :3

and yeah , how about we start with introductions for everybody? Names and one or two (or more!) things about what they like or do. :3

Dwarven Businesswoman in question is Zhei-lo, one of my lady Olga's aunts that has yet to have art produced. She's a mature, somewhat intimidating businesswoman. Specifically, she's a trade baron who owns and manages a number of trade routes back home. She spends a lot of her time with her spouses and concubines on the road, touring her holdings to make sure her many employees and associates are operating smoothly. Nice lady, if a bit overly serious a lot of the time. She's about four feet tall, broad-shouldered, wide-hipped, and appears, by human standards, to be East Asian (Chinese to be precise). She's very proud of her hair and facial hair, and goes to great lengths to groom it in her free time, including carefully brushing and oiling it at least once a day.

The Kaiju is Ronja Gustaffson, who started life as a human male and was the subject of a "Monsterization" (term used where they come from) process, which is an involuntary, permanent genetic splicing and modification. He became she about four years ago, which only became truly problematic when the mutation process ALSO made her grow to 22.5 feet tall, 26 tons, and gave her various intense physical "upgrades". Her breed of sheep is a Valais Blacknose (which is amazingly cute), and she's found it difficult to *do* much of anything, due to her size. She used to like reading a lot, so she listens to a lot of audio books, and is currently trying to find a decent job for someone of her considerable stature.

The Deep One hunk goes by the name Lost-in-Silt, and is a roughly 9' tall, extremely muscular abyssal fish humanoid with bioluminescent markings and large, dramatic fins. He's fairly monosyllabic; doesn't speak much, and when he does it's usually *just* enough to get by without having to engage in long conversation. Most of his interactions let his actions speak louder than his words, and his primary hobby/activity is patrolling the shallow waters off of New England since he's moved away from his deep sea trench of origin, and looking for landbound partners to crossbreed with, as is a Deep One's preference. Also, I will say that I use the term "hunk", but his physical appearance is monstrous enough that some people might find him more frightening or disconcerting than anything else.

The Rainbow Slime goes by Prince/Princess Gelatine, and is quite lovely. They have a prismatic, rainbow coloration that swirls and shifts all the time, but is never without all of the colors in the rainbow spectrum. They're actually a diplomat for a kingdom of various peaceful "monsters", with their specific breed of slimes being entirely benign. Their natural state is a nearly perfect ovoid blob of thick, viscous goo with a pair of black dot eyes and a mildly goofy looking smile formed by a crease, but they can adopt any number of shapes, with their most common being a very feminine, heavyset build with lovely curves, extremely thick curly "hair", and a "gown" produced from their biomatter.

-looks up Valais Blacknose- omg, they are adorable! Poor Ronja, I think the only work she may be able to find would be something outside related. Like farm work, park ranger, or construction in rural areas. Makes me want to give her a hug.

When she was still human, she was an IT professional, but they don't exactly make cable cabinets and computer terminals in her size. She's considering working as a lifeguard at a local lake, simply because it'd be very easy to wade out and pick someone up if they needed help.

oh, yeah, that is a good option, too.

She's pretty shy, but she's also learning that she can't really afford to be shy when A: she's too big for easy clothing, and B: she HAS to interact with people one way or another. She doesn't exactly have any farming know-how, so she has to rely on others for food. That or eat trees, which she can't do; she has a sensitive tummy.

she really could use that hug

She's extremely huggable! Supremely soft and squishy, with the loveliest wool. She's also highly affectionate, but shy about meeting new people very often.

Oh I bet, probably would be hugging her leg though, without an assist XD

It's all fluffy, really, so you can't go wrong! Just watch out for an udder or other organ swinging down that way, and you'd be fine.

XD well, depending on how comfortable she is will determine how fine I'd be.

Fair enough. Sometimes that's just what you need to lead to a good time or a budding friendship. Or both. Probably both.

indeed :3

For Zhei-lo, what was the most fun adventure you have been on?

To quote the lady herself: "The most fun? Traveling to the City of Salts, a coastal city known for its fine cuisine and fair weather. Depending on your definition of fun, I certainly had plenty of enjoyable experiences with the men and women I met there. But for a true adventure? Establishing a trade route through Ash Troll country and having to not only make connections with the various tribes that I met along the way, but getting permission to use a mountain pass from the Eidolon Dragon that called it home. There were many close shaves with wildlife and brigands, and if you've ever had to gamble with a Dragon you'd know that it can be very tense, and a bit nerve-wracking."

Oh, both sounds exciting, in all sorts of ways :D

Indeed. She's actually the aunt of my fan-favorite Dwarven lass, Olga. She's never gotten art, but she's pretty exotic for what people might expect of a Dwarf. Very adventurous and open to going out of her way to find and experience new things, places and people. I've never had much opportunity to share info about her, though.

I have so many dwarf character ideas in my head, that have yet to see the light of day, and only a small handful have been made so far, mostly in BG3 or Dragon Age Veilguard. probably the most exotic one is dwarf monk who has a tan complexion. Not sure exactly what ethnicity she looks like otherwise.

I've plenty of Dwarven lads and lasses, I just don't have the funds or artist connections to get all the art I want. Other than her children, Olga's family members that have shown up in my gallery are an uncle, two of her more exotic aunts, and her mother Ingrid.

yeah, that has been a problem for me as well. In BG3, I have made made my Dwarf Rogue, his druid twin sister, their great niece warpriest (or paladin in BG3). All natural adventurers. There are a few more that I am trying to figure out if they are related or not and more detailed back stories. XD

I will say the one issue is sometimes I'll have a new Dwarf and people will assume they're a Gasketbinder like Olga's clan, but that's just because I don't think people get that they're from different worlds. Olga's from my oldest ongoing world, Teriss, though, so she's a different sort.

You might need a disclaimer at the top or in the title. "Disclaimer: <insert Dwarf name> is not a Gasketbinder" XD

That'd be SO confusing for people who actually don't know my folks, too. Might just be a little troll at some point.

I mean, I was joking, but yeah, I guess there is not much that can be done.

I figured you were kidding, but it seemed like a fun idea just to throw on a modifier sometime.

ah, ok XP

How solid can Gelatine become?

Their most solid state is rather close to rubber; still very flexible, with a bit of give, but solid enough to keep their form. The one disadvantage to "hardening" themself like that is they have to lock themselves into a specific form as long as their matrix has solidified. More or less, they have to wait to shapeshift or return to their natural state until their body processes out the cellular changes and reverts to a malleable state.

oh, that is a shame, how long does it usually take to revert.

Depending on how long they maintain the shape. Anywhere from an hour or so to days. Normally they don't maintain any specific solid state for too long. MOST of their time is spent in their stereotypical slime orb/ovoid form when a different form isn't needed.

oh, that is tough. I guess it is best for them to remain in their default form until they need something else.

Yeah; it saves on energy. They need sugars as their primary sustenance, and trying to keep a fully solid state is very energy inefficient. So they try not to do so unless they have a really serious need. Usually a semi-solid gelatinous state gets any necessary job done, so that's their normal "diplomacy" setting, for interacting with more solid beings.

Nall too needs to consume a lot of energy, but instead of getting stuck when burned out, they most likely revert to near normal status and then can't transform for awhile.

Ahhh. Yeah; thankfully for Gelatine there's plenty of sources of sugar in modern society, so it isn't too bad.

indeed. Nall even without the need to consume so much to maintain transformations, Nall still has a sweet tooth and would normally be roly poly from it XD

Gelatine seems fairly small at first glance, but that's because on their natural slime orb state they're incredibly dense and compressed. If they wan tto, they can actually hollow themself out and use the material to grow much larger in various ways. Height, width, etc. Extra appendages, the works.

Nice. Size changes is Nall's weakness. minor changes are fine, but more extreme changes can get out of hand quickly. o3o

Gelatine's mass is static; they can neither gain or lose weight. If they do lose any kind of mass, it's temporary because the lost biomatter will seek to find its way home. Unless they're exposed to fire, extreme cold, high voltage, acid or some other profoundly cellularly destructive experience. They used to actually be a good bit bigger, but run-ins with "adventurers" who don't believe in intelligent/benign monsters have taken a toll of the centuries.

awe, poor Gelatine.

It's okay; they're doing well now, and just stay far away from Adventurers. As much as possible, at least; diplomatic missions can get hinky from time to time.

That is good to hear. I hope they get a chance to meet some of us kinder adventurers, to let them know we are all not like that.

Oh, I'm certain they will. Given how frequently they end up meeting new people during their trips, it has to happen sooner rather than later.

Indeed. Maybe said group protec! :3

Perhaps. They have a lovely personality, and do tend to make friends rather easily. I imagine they could end up rather popular with an adventuring party.

Oh no doubt they would :3

The businesswoman and adventurer surely has the most stories to tell!

Zhei-lo: Stories? Yes, I suppose I do have my share. You don't get to my age without having a few tales to weave, so to speak. Romances, marriages, trade deals, route finding, battles, hunting expeditions. Even a war or two, but I prefer not to linger on those if I can help it. It hasn't been an uneventful life, to say the very least.

Route finding and hunting expeditions sounds quite interesting! Do you often go out sourcing and gathering the things you sell? Or are you more of an entrepreneuse?

Zhei-lo: Usually, I have something of a personal investment in getting hands on with my work. There's always a sense of greater satisfaction knowing that the goods I offer are of the highest possible quality, so sourcing them myself is a great way to make sure of it. Granted, I only do so for the first batch; I'd never have the time, let alone the physical ability, to go to all of my holdings regularly for one thing. I do greatly enjoy the business aspect, mind you. Negotiating deals, collecting my payment, reinvesting elsewhere in the world.

that makes sense. You can only make a fun trip so often before it becomes a chore.
You say you reinvest in the world. Do you mean that in philanthropic sense or in the regular sense?

Zhei-Lo: Bit of both. I'm fond of charity, specifically helping to improve the smaller towns I pass through along my trade routes. Of course, that's helpful for me as well, given that it usually leads to better places to stay and improved roads. So they tend to go hand-in-hand.

Very shrewd and opportunistic. A true business woman. ¦3
Now let's get to some more spicy questions: What were the most... morally questionable dealings of your career, if any?

Zhei-Lo: That's a tricky question. Moral ambiguity is rather necessary for successful, long-term business plan. Bribery and seduction are most likely the things I'd point out immediately. I don't particularly believe in doing harm when it's possible to avoid it, but I've also hired mercenaries to deal with a competitor's efforts as well. Though, they did start that fight.

So you never smuggled any contraband or sold illicit goods?

Seduction is pretty cool, mind~

Zhei-Lo: Oh, darling... What do you think the bribery was for?

well, I would have assumed for securing exclusive contracts. ¦3

Zhei-Lo: Certainly, that has come up from time to time. Though the seduction has also helped in those circles, just as well.

Good, if the cops start asking questions, I know nothing.

All right, this interview has been going well, last question: You seem pretty well set. Do you have lots of contacts in high places? Politicians, nobility, bourgeoisie?

Zhei-Lo:I have a fair share of all of the above, yes. Especially among nobles. It's easy enough to get into the good graces of "the great and the good"; a bit of money, a bottle of wine, a little skin-to-skin, and they'll do nearly anything I ask.

Splendid!
Then can you get me a date with Gélatine? :3c

Zhei-Lo: Hah! You can ask her that yourself, if you're serious.

They didn't let me into the castle, and when I tried to deliver my letter on a candy-tipped arrow a guard tackled me. :(

Zhei-Lo: Tch. If you want to talk to her, just send us a note, dear. I assure you, we don't bite. Well, most of us. Some do, but usually on request.

See? I was right to go through you, after all~

I don't know how to choose. I'm in trouble.

It happens!